Rev Radio - Great Listen regarding Revs players transfers

[dncm]

If you have the time, you should really listen to Rev Radio from yesterday:

http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=radio

Brad had JP and Ives on and there was some good discussion regarding the Revs and the players transfers that didn't happen.

In listening, Brad was definitely coming across a little sketchy as "pretending" he didn't know details and kept stopping himself, and rewording - which seemed to give the impression he did know more than he was letting on.

JP brought up the Revs poor attendance and how Revs fans would react if they lost Shalrie and Clint and Brad seemed a little uncomfortable with that.

Ives really brought up some good points regarding the transfers, and Brad was trying to pass off that he was playing devil's advocate - but you could sense the pro-Revs coming through.

I want the Revs to do well, and I would hate the team to lose 2 key players mid season, but that is the Revs job to recognize when players may be ready to make a jump and should always be preparing for the future - so this is the Revs fault IMO. Based on our roster history, or free slots and money, our lack of depth this year (anyone seend the reserves?), and our lack of movement anywhere (Abundis aside), one gets the sense that the Revs are content to stay the course and then try and deal with stuff. Kind of like what is happening with the attendance.

[mosler]

Thanks for the heads up. I think you're right on with the Ives discussion. Brad was voicing concern that Clint owes Nicol and the team his best while he's still here, however long that may be. Without Nicol drafting Clint in the first round, would he have been rookie of the year? Would he have gotten to train and F'noord and later made the WC team? After saying all that, Brad says "I'm just playing devil's advocate here."

So it would seem that the team didn't want to lose Clint (or Shalrie) when they see themselves preparing for the playoffs any more than the league wanted to sell them for less than they are worth.

And while I respect the work Brad does for the Revs, I can't stand his interview style. "What do you think about this issue? Never mind, here's what I think."

[peabrainedidiot]

Thanks for the heads up. I think you're right on with the Ives discussion. Brad was voicing concern that Clint owes Nicol and the team his best while he's still here, however long that may be. Without Nicol drafting Clint in the first round, would he have been rookie of the year? Would he have gotten to train and F'noord and later made the WC team? After saying all that, Brad says "I'm just playing devil's advocate here."

So it would seem that the team didn't want to lose Clint (or Shalrie) when they see themselves preparing for the playoffs any more than the league wanted to sell them for less than they are worth.

And while I respect the work Brad does for the Revs, I can't stand his interview style. "What do you think about this issue? Never mind, here's what I think."
he's on revs payroll, he will always be giving us a very bias (bullshit) read on reality. I don't think brad is as stupid as we make him out to be.

[saabrian]

And while I respect the work Brad does for the Revs, I can't stand his interview style. "What do you think about this issue? Never mind, here's what I think."

I agree. I know he works for the Revs so he's always going to put a Polyanna spin on everything. But he always comes across as that kid in your class who's always trying to prove how smart he is (like the Chris Matthews of soccer). I wish he'd just chill a little bit and let his interviewees talk. It's also what makes them frustrating to watch on TV. I like Greg Lalas and wish Brad would tone it down a bit. Though after all these years, I'm not holding my breath.

[rkane1226]

JP brought up the Revs poor attendance and how Revs fans would react if they lost Shalrie and Clint and Brad seemed a little uncomfortable with that.


I feel pretty convinced that REVs attendance is almost independent of the names on the squad and the results. Last year was their best season ever with (names) Clint, Noonan, Shalrie and Twellman, in particular, hitting on all cylinders. Attendance still went down. Something else has sucked the life out of REVs attendance. 9 years (10 with this year) of horrible or marginal results? A cavernous new stadium that generates no noise? The gestapo security at the Razor the first few years? Cheap satellite dishes? I don't know. The people still coming are diehards (even if some are pessimistic ;)).

I suspect even using the Beckham rule to bring in a very, very recognizable name would only result in a temporary bump in attendance. This is why I'm so frustrated with the results this year. I don't think our attendance will keep this team in the area much longer. I don't think we can afford (any longer) to have a long view on REV success, assuming we want to witness it life in New England.

[peabrainedidiot]

I feel pretty convinced that REVs attendance is almost independent of the names on the squad and the results. Last year was their best season ever with (names) Clint, Noonan, Shalrie and Twellman, in particular, hitting on all cylinders. Attendance still went down. Something else has sucked the life out of REVs attendance. 9 years (10 with this year) of horrible or marginal results? A cavernous new stadium that generates no noise? The gestapo security at the Razor the first few years? Cheap satellite dishes? I don't know. The people still coming are diehards (even if some are pessimistic ;)).

I suspect even using the Beckham rule to bring in a very, very recognizable name would only result in a temporary bump in attendance. This is why I'm so frustrated with the results this year. I don't think our attendance will keep this team in the area much longer. I don't think we can afford (any longer) to have a long view on REV success, assuming we want to witness it life in New England.
great post. I agree with everything you just wrote

and yet, the revs don't ********ing market this team at all:(


so what is the future of the team?
do you think we'll be here in 3 years?

[JMMUSA8]

do you think we'll be here in 3 years?
plain and simple, yes.

[dncm]

I feel pretty convinced that REVs attendance is almost independent of the names on the squad and the results. Last year was their best season ever with (names) Clint, Noonan, Shalrie and Twellman, in particular, hitting on all cylinders. Attendance still went down. Something else has sucked the life out of REVs attendance. 9 years (10 with this year) of horrible or marginal results? A cavernous new stadium that generates no noise? The gestapo security at the Razor the first few years? Cheap satellite dishes? I don't know. The people still coming are diehards (even if some are pessimistic ;)).

I suspect even using the Beckham rule to bring in a very, very recognizable name would only result in a temporary bump in attendance. This is why I'm so frustrated with the results this year. I don't think our attendance will keep this team in the area much longer. I don't think we can afford (any longer) to have a long view on REV success, assuming we want to witness it life in New England.

Yep, I agree...although I think soccer fans all have short memories. I think a lot of the people who used to come and don't anymore - for whatever reasons like all the good(or is it bad) ones you mention above, might be better enticed if we added some serious named players. Cuz clearly results won't change it and the Revs FO doesn't do any marketing that seems to be working.

But if you added some quality foreign named signings - I wonder what would happen. And I don't mean washed up Howey's.

Clearly this market does not care about Franchino or Heaps anymore, aren't enticed by the local Parkhurst story anymore, are not fooled by World Cup Veteran Avery John...I hate using the Zenga argument.

Seriously, with everything we have seen about the Revs - how they scout and aquire talent: if Joseph, Dempsey, and Twellman all leave, and the Revs don't do anythign significant to offset that (and making trades for Ante Razov or Jeff Cunningham which would be such a Revs move - grab someone the year after they had a good year and then they stink with us - does not count), then I would seriously doubt that Revs fan base will ever grow outside of the diehards.

Of course, the other way to change this is to actually win something like MLS Cup....of course to do that you need good players and depth, which creates our chicken and egg situation.

[peabrainedidiot]

plain and simple, yes.
my thought as well, but....


will the krafts still own?

[JMMUSA8]

my thought as well, but....


will the krafts still own?
Again yes.

Although it looks like the Krafts don't care, they do. Their money would be better invested when they have a stadium and the league is more stable. With no marketing and a subpar team they can still get 10K+. To them that is good.

[Ultra Peanut]

Again yes.

Although it looks like the Krafts don't care, they do. Their money would be better invested when they have a stadium and the league is more stable. With no marketing and a subpar team they can still get 10K+. To them that is good.

Or, putting it another way: Kraft's a savvy businessman. If the team were an unmitigated money sink, he'd have bailed by now.

[peabrainedidiot]

Again yes.

Although it looks like the Krafts don't care, they do. Their money would be better invested when they have a stadium and the league is more stable. With no marketing and a subpar team they can still get 10K+. To them that is good.
great, so they are ok with mediocrity.:)

[ToMhIlL]

Or, putting it another way: Kraft's a savvy businessman. If the team were an unmitigated money sink, he'd have bailed by now.File this under "Now it can be told:" If it wasn't for the outstanding lightning-in-a-bottle play of guys like Dauda Kante and Joe Franchino and Carlos Llamosa for a strech of several games between September and November 2002, the Revs might not be here right now.

In August of ought-two, the Revs were floundering in their usual state of hoping to be mediocre, attendance was down in the new Patriots Palace, and expenses were dramatically up. About half the Revs staff was laid off, including GM Todd Smith's right-hand, and several in the ticket office.

Then the Revs started winning, and took it all the way to the MLS Cup final, and were a Winston Griffiths crossbar away from winning the whole enchillada. Had the Revs coasted out the rest of the season, finishing 4th or 5th and ending in a whimper, they likely would have folded the team. But with 63,000 showing up for the Cup, there was jsut enough hope to think it could work.

Nothing works on its own without any effort. Even weeds need to get rained on once in a while in order to grow.

[mosler]

zoinks!

So Tom, what's your feeling on how long this post MLS Cup(s) 'we can make this work' hangover will continue to buoy the spirits of the front office?

[rkane1226]

Or, putting it another way: Kraft's a savvy businessman. If the team were an unmitigated money sink, he'd have bailed by now.

I hope you are right. They release so little information that I believe we could all be easily surprised to wake up one day and it is either all over (we fold) or they've been sold (locally or to another region).

I can't help but think that $0 for parking was an attempt to bring people back along with extending the season 1 ticket prices. They've lost all the parking Revenue and attendence is the same or down. How long until they ARE an unmitigated money sink?

[pwykes]

I can't help but think that $0 for parking was an attempt to bring people back

The dumb thing is, they haven't marketed this at all. No one I know who's not a Rev's die hard was aware that parking was free this year until I told them. They should have splashed this all over the place (billboards, etc). It's not going to help get people in the seats if they keep it a secret.

[KevTheGooner]

The dumb thing is, they haven't marketed this at all. No one I know who's not a Rev's die hard was aware that parking was free this year until I told them. They should have splashed this all over the place (billboards, etc). It's not going to help get people in the seats if they keep it a secret.

I agree. Offering free parking around Boston is like giving away free beer in Ireland.

[JMMUSA8]

The dumb thing is, they haven't marketed this at all. No one I know who's not a Rev's die hard was aware that parking was free this year until I told them. They should have splashed this all over the place (billboards, etc). It's not going to help get people in the seats if they keep it a secret.
But the Revs don't market. They took the marketing budget and put it elsewhere. Obviously we don't know where that money will go.

[a517dogg]

I agree. Offering free parking around Boston is like giving away free beer in Ireland.

No its not... lots of beer in Ireland, but no parking in Boston. It'd be like giving away free beer in ... Saudi Arabia. But if Saudis were alcoholics.

[patfan1]

But the Revs don't market. They took the marketing budget and put it elsewhere. Obviously we don't know where that money will go.
The Revs take a lot of marketing budget, salary cap budget, etc etc ... and yet no one knows where it goes.

But I think many are starting to figure it out...